NTSing

Hey everyone, I'm the lastest new guy. I have a questiong for those in the know. Ok, after test riding several different manufactures bikes and their verious models I've deciede that I'm going to buy a 2009 Cannondale Six Carbon 5 this Monday. I'm getting it for $1899. I don't know if that's a good price or not but I talked him down a bit. The owner of the shop wants to trade me out for seats. I'm about 6'3" and built like a linebacker. He doesn't believe I'll be comfortable on the stock seat. I'm not sure what brand or model the seat is but it looks fairly expensive and it's the stock one that comes with the bike. The seat he wants to swap me for I noticed is listed for around $40-50 in his shop. My question is, is this stock seat worth a lot more than the $40 seat he wants to swap me for? Is he trying to make a few more bucks off of me by doing this and selling my seat as new? I've noticed online that several nice looking seats are well over $100-200. I'm thinking about keeping my seat and if I don't like it then fork out a few bucks for a new one at that point. What's everyone's opinion about this, should I keep my seat or not? BTW, while test riding this bike I didn't think the seat was bad but then it was only a short test ride. Thanks everyone.

blamire

keep the stock saddle for while because it may be fine for you. they generally use cheaper ones on stock bikes. maybe the owner has just had lots of bad experiences with people coming back and flaming the saddle saying it is rubbish. everyone is different though and if the stock one is fine for you then you don't need to fork out extra.

jesspal

The stock saddle is horrible, but if you are only gonna swap it for another cheap seat than give it a try like others have said. I personally hated that saddle, i sold it on ebay for $20.00.

Cycho

The stock saddle may be too narrow for your build and he just thinks a wider saddle would be better. Of course, without more specifics, it's difficult to say, but that's my "giving the benefit of the doubt" answer.

And yes, LBS owners are always trying to get customers to spend more money.

patentcad

If he's not trying to make more money he's a communist.

Why do you hate capitalism? Are you a communist too?

roadwarrior

First, $1,899 is a good price for that bike. I generally see them for more money than that, up to another hundred dollars.

Second, the seat on that bike, if purchased "stand alone" is inexpensive...maybe $50ish. Which for a good seat is nothing...

Third, since I sell this suff and using your self description, no way that seat's wide enough for you. See, seats also come in different widths. I realize that to the untrained eye all bikes and seats look pretty much the same. But there are significant differences.

Kudos to the shop person that's trying to actually HELP YOU. Whatever seat you end up with, it has to have a long nose. You need that to accomodate the hip angle created by a road bike and still give your legs enough room to clear while pedaling.

They don't put $200 seats on bikes under two grand.

youcoming

Of coarse he's trying to make money off you. Myself I'd keep the saddle and if I don't like it get something else.

dguest

Since you stated that you are new to cycling, I would recomend that you do not go for a 50 dollar seat just to start. Keep the original seat and ride for a while. At least 200 mile, maybe more. You sit bones have to become accustomed to the seats. Everyone is different so a seat that works for one person may not be the proper seat for the next. I learned the hard way, Saddles are something that you have to try and find the correct one for you, this can be a trial and error as there is as many configurations af sit bones as there is seats. Some people like Specialized seats some like fizik some like brooks. Just decide which is for you and then remember it will take a little ttime for your seat to break into you shape and your sit bones to become callused. .

rangerdavid

same thing happened when i got my CADD 9. I kept the OEM saddle for a couple of weeks, and wound up not liking it just like my salesman said. I got a new one off eBay later that i just love!!

pdedes

when you are buying, it's the seller's job to figure out your squeal point, and your job to figure out the seller's squeal point.

EKCooper

Who knows, you might like the Ponza (that's what's on there I think). I did not like it and replaced it with the Arione (great saddle), but saddles are so individual that you might be ok with the Ponza. Saddle is one of those things that's ared to guess. I just tested one of those yesterda (I've been trying to decide between upgrading my Synapse 7 to the carbon 5 in the Synapse or the Six or upgrading the components). It's a good bike and I think that price is good. Good luck!

Val23708

I dont think anyone has ever kept a Ponza

Waves77

Did you try the $50 seat? Chances are the original one there sucks either way, and he's just giving you a wider option that will at least get you started.

Finding the right seat for you will take time, once you gain some more experience and are dialed in you could try something like CC's saddle demo program (https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...es/demo-saddle) or swap saddle with friends.

Do not underestimate the importance of a comfortable saddle, specially once you start doing longer distances. FWIW I'm a big guy too and the Fizik Aliante really worked out for me, you can find them cheap on ebay if you're patient.

patentcad

They did, but it turned out to be a classic Ponza Scheme.

MONGO!

Stock saddles are usually cheap junk, he's doing you a favor.

roadwarrior

Notice how these threads get started and the OP never comes back?

urbanknight

Take it home and ride it as is for at least 2 weeks. If you don't like it, buy one you think you'll like and keep the stock one so you can put it back on and keep your favorite saddle if/when you sell the bike.

NTSing

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys. This forum is a great thing for someone such as myself who's new to all of this. It sounds like the shop owner is trying to do me a favor after reading what's being said here. It's good to learn that the saddle on this bike is fairly inexpensive. From my untrained eye it looked pricy but then it was sitting on an expensive (to me) bike. Would those of you that know more about this, and that would be everyone compared to me, recommend any particular seat brand or model for me to look at? The shop owner has a good selection of bikes and equipment to choose from.

Thanks for your help guys. I do appreciate it.

Georgebowen

The stock saddle on my Allez Sport is super cheap, but so far fits me better than the other $100+ saddles I have tried. It's fine, I can do 3+ hrs on it with very little discomfort. It's all about fit of saddle shape to your anatomy.

I have a new arione in the mail though and I think that will be a major upgrade.

But that seems like a solid price and I sure hope he's trying to make more money off you. That means he should be trying to help you so you buy more stuff. Or giving you discounts on clothes.

dguest

As you will have noted in my previous post I did list some other brands of saddles. But remember they are very subjective. The perfect saddle for me may be totally wrong for you. You have to find the one that is best for you.

Some people like Specialized seats some like fizik some like brooks. Just decide which is for you and then remember it will take a little ttime for your seat to break into you shape and your sit bones to become callused. .

cyclefreaksix

Just sounds like good business to me. Most stock saddles suck, all Ponza saddles suck.

Now if he tries to sell you the undercoat sealer, walk away.

Cycho

But take the rust proofing. You want that.

riff

The Specialized Toupe comes in assorted widths, and many here, including me, really like them. The San Marco Regal is a wider saddle, as is the San Marco Rolls. You might want to give one of the "trial" options a go, like the one on CC.

Edit: I too had the Ponza on a stock bike. A$$ hatchet.

pkpsu

give it 100 miles or so and then you will know what you do and don't like about the saddle. I grabbed myself a san marco regal after figuring out I like a saddle with more of a wide and flat rear profile

Brazos

I have the stock Ponza on my Synapse. The first 200-250 miles it bothered me some but since then it has been great. I just did 41 miles earlier today and the seat was just fine and never was i uncomfortable. I am now up to 400 miles on the Ponza. My only complaint with the Ponza they stuck on my bike it is a totally different color than the rest of the bike. I may end up buying another one so it will match the color scheme. If anyone has a white or black and white Ponza they would like to trade for a silver and red one let me know. To the OP in my opinion if the LBS thinks you should switch seats for one with an equivilant value do it. You aren't loose anything.